"The bike of the future"

[Redlight]

What does the panel think of this?

http://www.vanhawks.com/

The production model will come with disc brakes, by the way.

About a grand with shipping etc. 

[hatler]

That last photo has been reversed.

[Jaded]

I'd be suspicious...

none of the photos have a whole back wheel in them!

[hatler]

No mudguards.

[LEE]

Does it have an App to warn you when the saddle is too low?  It needs one.

[Woofage]

No mudguards.

I noticed that too - a bit of an omission for a "commuting bike". No fittings for a rack either.

I guess the needs of real-world commuting and utility cyclists are at odds with the slick image of the [electronic & software] technologies on offer.

Nice looking bike though.

[hatler]

Producing a utility bike without including such obvious things always smacks to me of a designer who really has little understanding of the context in which their design is to be used.

Fail.

[Charlotte]

I wouldn't even think of buying one until it had integrated indicator lights, an espresso cup holder and a built in video camera with automated hipstermatic Instagram filters.

[Woofage]

Thinking about it, since it has proximity sensors, why not couple this with a f*ck off big SPIKE (carbon fibre, natch) that automagically shreds the panels of cars passing too close?

[Cudzoziemiec]

I think it's been designed by someone who'd been sacked from Microsoft.

What most surprises me though is that all of the photos show a helmetless rider. Very behind trend.

[hatler]

I also despair of technology being deployed unnecessarily.

Vehicle too close ?  What about using your ears, looking over your shoulder, or even fitting a mirror ?

No, don't be ridiculous, let's build in some electronics, that's properly geeky (and we can charge more).

I bet the person who designed this isn't an engineer, but a design student.

[Kim]

I quite like the idea of haptic feedback through the handlebars, but I'm struggling to think of useful information for it to convey

[Jaded]

How bumpy the road surface is?

[LittleWheelsandBig]

I'm keen on the turn navigation indication on the bars. The rest of it is not very interesting.

[fields5069]

So I would ride to work, and on the A38 bit the handlebars would basically always be vibrating. Nice.

[Dibdib]

So instead of looking at a GPS on the bars or listening to spoken instructions through earbuds, you can "keep your eyes on the road" by... looking at LEDs on the handlebars. 

[hatler]

Surely the route indication is something that would benefit from haptic technology.

[fuaran]

There have been a few previous systems with GPS navigation using LEDs on the bars. eg Hammerhead (though not sure if that's actually available yet): http://hammerhead.io/
I think it does make some sense, its quicker/easier to just glance at an LED to get the direction, instead of trying to read a little screen on a GPS device.

[LEE]

I also despair of technology being deployed unnecessarily.

You'll probably love this then:

WHITE ORAL-B PRO 6000 SMARTSERIES TOOTHBRUSH WITH BLUETOOTH® CONNECTIVITY

(I shit you not)

Blue Teeth?

• SmartSeries features Bluetooth 4.0 technology that connects to the Oral-B App** and provides real-time guidance to track your results, customise your brushing and provide entertainment.

"Hey Dave! Want to see my tooth-brushing results for the 2nd Quarter?  They're up 15% in real terms over 1st Quarter"

I bet the person who pitched the idea of a "connected toothbrush" to the CEO wasn't sure if he'd get promoted or get the sack on the spot.

Are Razors "connected" yet.  Braun make those also so it can't be far off. 

[Cudzoziemiec]

I also despair of technology being deployed unnecessarily.

You'll probably love this then:

WHITE ORAL-B PRO 6000 SMARTSERIES TOOTHBRUSH WITH BLUETOOTH® CONNECTIVITY

(I shit you not)

Blue Teeth?

• SmartSeries features Bluetooth 4.0 technology that connects to the Oral-B App** and provides real-time guidance to track your results, customise your brushing and provide entertainment.

Oh. My. Days.

I am now faced by a great existential quandary - to spend the rest of my life in a monastery or in a jungle? Actually, it's got to be the jungle, I bet the monks have bluetooth vespers connectivity in the cloisters and communion wafer proximity apps.

But first, I'll brush my teeth.

[Kim]

I also despair of technology being deployed unnecessarily.

You'll probably love this then:

WHITE ORAL-B PRO 6000 SMARTSERIES TOOTHBRUSH WITH BLUETOOTH® CONNECTIVITY

(I shit you not)

Blue Teeth?

• SmartSeries features Bluetooth 4.0 technology that connects to the Oral-B App** and provides real-time guidance to track your results, customise your brushing and provide entertainment.

Oh. My. Days.

Might encourage kids to brush their teeth properly, thobut.

[T42]

Keeping your eyes on the road The Valour will guide you through each turn with LED indicators on the handlebar

How do I see the effing bars if I've got my eyes on the road?

[Cudzoziemiec]

I also despair of technology being deployed unnecessarily.

You'll probably love this then:

WHITE ORAL-B PRO 6000 SMARTSERIES TOOTHBRUSH WITH BLUETOOTH® CONNECTIVITY

(I shit you not)

Blue Teeth?

• SmartSeries features Bluetooth 4.0 technology that connects to the Oral-B App** and provides real-time guidance to track your results, customise your brushing and provide entertainment.

Oh. My. Days.

Might encourage kids to brush their teeth properly, thobut.

They're alright, they run green, keep their teeth nice and clean

[Vince]

I also despair of technology being deployed unnecessarily.

You'll probably love this then:

WHITE ORAL-B PRO 6000 SMARTSERIES TOOTHBRUSH WITH BLUETOOTH® CONNECTIVITY

(I shit you not)

Blue Teeth?

• SmartSeries features Bluetooth 4.0 technology that connects to the Oral-B App** and provides real-time guidance to track your results, customise your brushing and provide entertainment.

Oh. My. Days.

Might encourage kids to brush their teeth properly, thobut.

Nah, it would take them about a minute to work out how to get the high score without the brush going anywhere near their teeth.

[Kim]

Nah, it would take them about a minute to work out how to get the high score without the brush going anywhere near their teeth.

I didn't want to mention the possible teledildonics applications...